Edge trim corner construction for table tops or the like



June 16, 19 53 R. E. TAYLOR 2,642,326

EDGE TRIM CORNER CONSTRUCTION FOR TABLE ToPs OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 12, 1949 y/yjo I INVENTOR.

BY 09%.? 71 124042 o r 1/ A T70 PNEYS Patented June 16, 1953 EDGE TRIM CORNER CONSTRUCTION FOR a ABLE TOPS on THE LIKE I Ralph E.- Taylor, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

.signor to The Enamel Products- Company, Cleveland Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 12, 1949, Serial No. 115,246

Thisinvention relates to a corner construction for an edge-trimmed top of a table, desk, counter or the like, all of which are comprehended by the word table as hereinafter used. 7

Where the top structure of a tableis left with an unfinished or raw edge, it is usually desirable to conceal such edge by means of edge trim, which, in a great many cases, takes the form of a decoratedor undecorated metal strip fastened in some way to the top structure. Ordinarily, the application of such edge trim involves the necessity of providing joints, of which, particularly if the top structure is interrupted by a cleavage plane provided for the insertion of fillers or leaves, there are likely to be at least four but of which, in the case of square or oblong tables, there may be as many, as eight. Regardless of shape, if the exterior sections of edge trim are decorated, it is not usually desirable that the in-- terior sections of edge trim defining the cleavage plane be so decorated; rather, itis preferable,- in the interests of a close fit, that such. sections be left wholly undecorated. 'Thus the sections of and frestructure of the table.- It is a; further-object ofthe invention to provide edge trim of this kind which lends itself to decorative effects, particu-- larly where it defines the periphery of the table proper, which has no exposed rough edges, and

which leaves no pockets in or on the top'structure of the table wherein debris-may'collect. A fur-= ther object of the invention is to provide edge trim of this kind which lends itselftothe formation of a neat, inconspicuous but sturdy joint that does not detract from the appearance presented by any decorative effects that may be applied to the exterior sections of'the edge trim between corners of the top structure of the table. further object of'the invention is to provideedge trim and a joint therefor which, although imparting to it an unusually attractive appearance,

will not'add unduly to the cost of the table. Y

These and other objects and advantagesof the invention are achieved in themanner disclosed in'the following description and the accompanying drawings, which show acorner construction fora table top at a pointwhere a section-of decorated edge trim meets a section of undecorated edgetrim. i

Still a i "4 "Claims. (Cl. 311-107) In the drawings, Figure 1 isan isometric view of a corner construction of an'edge-trimmed table top. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the parts making up the corner construction of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevation, as seen from the left in Figure 1, of the undecorated edge'section A of Figures 1 and'2. Figure4 is a side elevation,

looking in the direction indicated by arrows 4-4 I I is a vertical section through section B on line H-H of Figure 4.

. As indicated in Figures 1 and '2, the corner construction of the present invention incorporates an undecorated section of edge trim, designated the top structure but falls somewhat short of it,

usually by a distance of the order of one-eighthinch in a typical case. It includes a second section of edge rim, designated B, which is decoratedas shown byindented grooves and which does not stop short of or at the corner but instead turns the corner and continues for a short distance, usually one-eighth inch or slightly less, in a manner such that the end thereof abuts or opposes the end of section A. ,The top structure of the table proper, designated C, is provided near the corner with-a hollowed-out space D lying for the most part behind section A. Within hollowed-- out space D, which-as represented in Figure 2 is of minimum length and breadth but which may; if desired, be larger or differently shapedare' received interlocking means, designated E, which take the form of interdigitating projections on sections A and B that in large part, but not entirely, are located back of sectionA.

Section A consists, among other things, of a main portion l0, preferably perfectly plain as regards decoration, which extends as described toward the geometric corner of top structure C and which, perhaps one-eighth of an inch orso short of the corner, is provided with a squared-' of these is necessary and all may be dispensed with, if so desired. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 9, section A is provided with two tabs 12 and s which, at the time when section A isjbeing stamped or otherwise formed, are off-set very top flange l4 extending for about one-eighth of 7 7i an inch inward from the top-ofmain portion iii and a bottom flange I5, relatively wide as Loom:

pared to top flange M, which may extend inward from the bottom of main porti'on'lflfor a distanceof about three-eighths of an inch. Preferably, the top and bottom flanges, if present at all, are angled somewhat so that in each casethje included angle is less than 90". In the case of top flange M, such angling,.(conditioning) is so slight that the included angle 01. indicated in Figure 9 is less than 90 by: an amount measured only in minutes or seconds. On the other hand, bottom flange I5 is angled by approximately 3, so the included angle 5 indicated in Figure '9, rather than being precisely 90, measured: approximately 87. The purpose of angling top and bottom flanges M and I5 in this manner is to preclude the possibility of gaps between the respective flanges and top structure C; also, in the case of bottom flange l5, to cause the latter to tend to bite into the bottom of top structure C in the interests of more firmly holding section A in position. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the outer end 5 of bottom flange I5 is not squaredoif but cut back slightly for reasons which will appear hereinafter.

Section B consists, among other things, of a main portion decorated by the incorporation of a plurality of grooves 2| stamped or otherwise formed therein in such manner as to extend longitudinally thereof. Main portion 29 does not stop short of or even at the geometric corner of top structure C, which has a counterpart in corner 22 of section B, but is provided with a continuation 23 extending substantially at right angles to main portion 20 for a distance of about one-eighth of an inch. Continuation 23 carries a grooved integral tab 24 provided with a pierced hole 25 by means of which tab 24, and therefore section B, may be made fast to top structure C. Tab 24, which is bent in such manner that included angle '1 (Figures 6 and -8) is a few degrees less than a right angle, is both longer and wider than tabs !2 and I3 on section A and, like them. is oif-set slightly to the rear of the'plane of the joint in order to permit the end of continuation 23 of main portion 28 of section B to abut squared-off end H of main portion it of section A without unnecessary lack of evenness or other irregularity. Tab 24 is so located relative to tabs [2 and 13 that it flts snugly between them, interlocking therewith to form concealed means efiectively preventing lateral displacement of sections A and B.

As in the case of section A, section B is characterized by a narrow top flange 25 overlying top structure C of the table, which flange extends inward at an angle very slightly less than 90 from the top of main portion 20 of section B (Figure 11). With continuation 23, top flange 25 forms a shallow peripheral rim of uniform width outlining the top and end portions of section B. Projecting inward from the bottom of main portion 20 of section B and thus underlying top structure C- of the table is a bottom flange 21 generally similar to bottom flange l5 and similarly angled (Figures 10 and 11) which flange may be narrow or wide, as may be desired, but which, especially if of a width considerably greater than top flange 26, is preferably provided with a rectangular cut-away area 28 the purpose of which is to preclude interference between bottom flange 2'l'of section B and outer end It of bottom flange I5 of section A. As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the cut-away area 28 need not extend all the way back to main portion 20 in order to provide the desired clearance, but may leave intact, a narrow portion 29, perhaps oneeighth inch in width, forming part of bottom flange 21. This construction, together with the fact that the outer end l6 of bottom flange I5 is cut back as shown in Figures 5 and 7, prevents oven-riding of bottom flanges l5 and 21 when the sectionsare assembled to form a joint.

When the edge trim is to be applied to top structure 0, main portion 20 of section B is fitted to the side of top structure 0 shown at the right in each of Figures 1 and 2, being glued if desired but preferably made fast by a brad in hole 25 in tab 24, thus precluding the possibility of displacement, lateral or otherwise, of section B in thevicinity of the joint. Tab 24, being off-set slightly from and bent at angle of a few degrees to the plane of continuation 23 of main portion 20, fits into hollowed-out space D at the corner of top structure C of the table. Thereafter, section A is brought into proximity to the edge of top structure C shown at the left in each of Figures 1 and 2, being bowed slightly to cause tabs i2 and 13 to straddle tab 24 and, when section A springs back into its normal flat shape, to slide in under continuation 23 of main portion 26 of section B. Like tab 24, tabs 12 and 13 are received within hollowed-out space D in top structure C. The two opposing ends of sections A and B thus are enabled to abut without any tendency on the part of either to bulge out of the plane of section A;'in addition, section A is precluded from lateral displacement, at least at the joint, by virtue of the fact that tabs 12 and H! are located back of continuation 23 of main portion 20 of section B.

Assuming that both top and bottom flanges are used and that the top flange is narrow and the bottom flange wide, as shown, f0r example, in Figures 2, 9 and 10, no problem is presented where top flange 26 of section B abuts top flange Id of sectionA for, as previously pointed out, top flange 26 and continuation 23 of main portion 20 of section B form a shallow peripheral rim of substantially uniform width; accordingly, they abut the opposite or counterpart elements of section' A withoutoverlap .and preferably without gap. A similar situation would come about if bottom flange 21 on section B were of the same width as top flange 26; but where, as indicated in Figures 2, 6, 8, 10 and 11, a relatively wide bottom flange is employed, it is desirable that cut-away area 28 be provided in order that it may receive'the outer end l6 and corner of bottom flange l5 of section A without overriding of the parts.

The material of the edge trim; i. e., the material of which sections A and B are made, will ordinarily be a corrosion-resistant metal; for example, Monel metal, stainless steel, aluminum or the like, that is capable of being stamped or otherwise formed to the desired shape. However, it is possible to employ instead non-metallic materials that are capable of being extruded or molded in strip form,- as, for example, horn-like synthetic resins of any one of several known types that lend themselves, because of their toughness,

springiness and other desirable physical characteristics, to use in the manner described. The material of which top structure C is made may be metal, glass, natural wood, plywood or any other like material in sheet or panel form. Preferably, but not necessarily, the upper surface of top structure C Will be decorated in one of the many ways known to the art to impart to it an attractive finish. Edge section B, instead of being decorated by means of longitudinally extending grooves, may be decorated in any other desired way, as, for example, by milling, knurling, painting, enameling, etc. Similarly, section A, which normally would be left undecorated, may be decorated or finished in any desired fashion.

It is apparent that modifications may be made of the corner; top and bottom flanges on each of said sections, one of said flanges being Wider than the other; and interlocking means preventing lateral displacement of both and endwise displacement of at least one or" said sections, said means being received withina concealedrecess formed in said top structure behind said first section.

2. A construction as in claini l in which the Wide flange on one of said sections is cut away to accommodate the outer end of the wide fiange on the other section.

within a wide range in the detailsof the corner construction described above and shown in the drawings. Changes in the indicated configurations, dimensions, proportions, etc., as well as in the stated materials of construction, may be made without difficulty by persons skilled in' the art. joint may take forms specifically different from the interdigitating projections shown in the drawings and described in the specification; for

example, they need not be concealed but may be visible, if preferred, for reasons of convenience or otherwise.

spirit of the invention.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by

Other changes of a structural nature a may likewise be made without departing from the The looking or interlocking means at the suitable summarization in the appended claims,

whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

I claim:

1. A corner construction for an edge-trimmed top of a table, desk, counter or the like comprising top structure forming a corner; a first section of edge trim afiixed to said top structure on one side of the corner,.said first section extending toward but falling somewhat short of the corner; a second section of edge trim afiixed to said top structure on the other side of the corner, said second section extending toward, turning, and

projecting for a short distance beyond the corner in such manner that the endthereof opposes the end of the first section where the latter falls short 3. A construction as in claim 2 in which the wide flange in which the cut-away area is prov vided projects from the main portion of the section at an angle less than 90.

4. A corner construction for an edge-trimmed top of a table, desk, counter or the like comprising top structure forming a corner; a first section of edge trim aiiixed to said top structure on one side of the corner, saidfirst section extending toward but falling somewhat short of the corner; a second section of edge trim afilxed to said top structure on the otherside of the corner, said second section extending toward, turning, and projecting for a short distance beyond the corner insuch manner that the end thereof opposes the end of the first section where the latter falls short of the corner; andinterlocking means preventing lateral displacement ofboth and endwise displacement of at least one of said sections, said.

means being received Within a concealed recess formed in said top structure behind said undeco rated section. I 1

RALPH E. TAYLOR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 50,226 Croak' -O'ct. 3, 1865 1235, 132 Burrowers July 31, 1917 1,277,319 Joice Aug. 27, 1918 1,746,429 1 Kelleweay Feb. 11, 1930 1,825,464 Lopez Sept. 29, 1931 2,115,130 ifhurn Apr. 26, 1938 2,555,547

Kelleghan June 5, 1951 

